Some of the magician inside Apollo must have been conscious because they headed for the dragon keep behind the stables. They had been built for Taranis's knights to use if they wanted. Apollo found the largest pen and scratched about at the clean straw. He plucked Lachlan off his back and curled around him like the world's biggest cat.
"We are sleeping? Okay, that's a good idea," Lachlan said, pulling off his weapons and boots. Apollo lifted a wing, and Lachlan took the hint and climbed under it.
"When we wake up, you sure better have a good fucking excuse why you never told me I was your mate," Lachlan said and curled up into the hay.
Post-battle exhaustion claimed him, and he curled into the warm bulk of Apollo's side. It wasn't long before the dragon was snoring softly, and Lachlan finally shut his eyes.
35
Apollo woke in an unfamiliar building. It was the third time in a fortnight, which seemed extreme even for him. He was naked, itchy, and sticky.
Hay. I'm sleeping in fucking hay. Just great, he thought groggily. The only thing that made sense was that he was curled around Lachlan's back. But he smelled like blood and sweat and something icky.
"Hey, wake up. Where are we?" Apollo said, gently shaking Lachlan's big shoulder. He rolled over, and Apollo shrieked at the fresh cut down his cheek. "What the fuck happened to your beautiful face?"
"What are you screaming about?" Lachlan grumbled, and then his eyes snapped open. "Oh, gods, you're human again. Thank fuck. Am I your mate?"
"Ahhhh...I'm so disorientated," Apollo said, leaping to his feet. He looked down. "And I'm naked."
Lachlan's blue eyes narrowed at him. "You don't remember?"
"I'm sure it will come back to me when I have some clothes," Apollo replied.
Lachlan headed out into the rain and returned with a horse blanket.
"There you go. You okay? We are in Kian's back yard, by the way," Lachlan said and wrapped the blanket around him.
Apollo might have a foggy memory, but he felt good. Strong. He took Lachlan by the waist and lifted him a few feet off the air.
"Something is wrong," he said.
Lachlan huffed out a laugh. "No shit. You turned into a big fucking dragon last night. Put me down, and let's find a shower."
"I was going to say you smell ripe."
Lachlan bent down to pull on his boots. Damn, he really had the nicest ass. "What you are smelling is dragon saliva...from when you licked me…as a dragon."
"Lachie, love, can we talk about that when we are in the shower in my room in the castle? I'm no good when I first wake up—you know that," Apollo said, and rubbed at his forehead.
Lachlan put an arm around him. "Okay, let's get you upstairs. Maybe the kitchen will already have some coffee brewing."
Apollo walked in a daze as they went through the stables and into the kitchens. Hedera took one look at him and shook her head, spraying flower petals from her hair.
"Dragons," she huffed and handed them two mugs of coffee.
Apollo could have kissed her, but that would have been a bad idea for both of them. They headed up the staircases, past the lab, and into Apollo's apartment. He didn't know what time it was, but it was early enough that they didn't encounter anyone. That was a good thing. He didn't want anyone but Lachlan right then.
He slid the bolt shut on the door just to ensure they wouldn't be disturbed by some well-meaning relative eager to check on him. Apollo rummaged around for clean clothes and elixirs. Someone had left Lachlan's beat-up duffle at the end of his bed like they knew he would find his way there eventually.
"This shower better have room for two," Lachlan said, pulling off his dirty black T-shirt. He had a purple bruise on his ribs, and Apollo hurried to find a proper healing potion.
"Here, drink this. What the fuck happened to you?" Apollo asked, giving him the vial.
"Met Kovacs. He got in a few good hits with some brass knuckles before taking control of me with blood magic and almost made me slit my own throat," he said. He drank the potion and turned the shower on. He climbed under the spray and groaned.
Apollo frowned, pausing by the shower door. He remembered watching Lachlan join the fight at the main house through binoculars. He had seen Kovacs tackle him, and he had tossed the binoculars and started running. There hadn't been any pain, but he had suddenly been running on four legs, and all he could think of was...
"My mate was in trouble," Apollo whispered. He put his hand over his mouth as his dragon memories rushed back.
